When raising our children, it is natural to want to see them succeed
in life. As God would have it, much time and attention must be given to
every detail in the training of the children with which He has entrusted
us. But is that always why some parents try so hard to plan and run their
children's lives? Men and women even use some of their "connections" to
try to get special treatment for their sons and daughters. Ladies, honorable
ambitions can quickly become dishonorable if we are not careful!
Matthew 20:17-19
And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the
way, and said unto them, [18] Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son
of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes,
and they shall condemn him to death, [19] And shall deliver him to the
Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day
he shall rise again.
Here Jesus is presenting a serious subject to His twelve disciples that
is of the utmost importance, and it was necessary that they should be
well prepared for such an unpleasant event, though we understand it to
be a victorious one. Despite the fact that Jesus said He would rise again,
imagine the disturbing images and emotions these men suffered in learning
the unsettling news that Christ would first be betrayed, mocked, scourged
and then crucified. However, what I find most alarming is that on the
heels of such severe life-changing news comes a mother with a very selfish
personal request!
Matthew 20:20-21:
Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping
him, and desiring a certain thing of him. [21] And he said unto her, What
wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the
one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.
Salome, upon hearing from her sons what would transpire, came to obtain
position and power for her two boys. The Bible says she came worshipping
AND desiring a certain thing of Christ… (Sounds double minded to me!)
What stands out even more is that Salome takes this sacred occasion to
advance her children without any regard to what Jesus was about to go
through! His glory was bypassed for her own… Could ambition really make
a woman impervious to the suffering and sacrifice of the Son of man??
Are we as believers so preoccupied with our own egotistical interests
and plans?? Are we as guilty to looking to earthly power and influence
while disregarding the power and influence of heaven?
Jeremiah 45:5a
And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not…
Though scripture is silent as to the genealogy of Salome, we do know that
she shared the same devotion to Jesus, as did her husband Zebedee. She
was one of the virtuous women who followed Jesus in Galilee and ministered
to Him. Her sons were two of Christ's best-loved disciples whom He nicknamed
"Sons of Thunder." Nevertheless, despite their long-term connection with
Jesus, it did not give them the right to slight their reverence for the
Lord in pursuit of their vain ambitions…
Mark 10: 35-38
And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master,
we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. [36]
And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? [37] They
said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and
the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.
Ladies, our requests are a reflection of our character! Very often the
things that we petition the Lord for are done so that we may consume them
upon our lusts, not our love for God. Take a moment to reflect upon the
things that you have wanted your heavenly Father to grant. Is there a
possibility you've rudely bypassed His glory in hopes of getting your
own will your own way? Have your prayers been rooted in a desire to be
preferred above others or in preferring others before you? Are you watching
for any opportunity to honor God or are you on the lookout for any occasion
where God might credit you and your children?
Matthew 20:22-23
But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink
of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism
that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. [23] And he saith
unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism
that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left,
is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared
of my Father.
In spite of the vanity of their ambitions in the face of a most hallowed
occasion, Jesus answers the prideful desires of this family with meekness.
Though with full assurance they believed themselves creditable, Salome,
James and John are unaware that the pathway to glory is harder than they
think! Therefore, an overly assertive attempt was made to arrive at an
honorable position by way of shortcut instead of letting GOD determine
who was worthy to fill particular places of authority. Man always seeks
to guarantee a place for himself when he fails to rest in the Lord. In
your rush to be seated above everybody else, your self-centered ambitions
become injurious to others…
Matthew 20:24
And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the
two brethren.
There is always dispute and division in an atmosphere where people strive
to be the greatest! Folks such as these are easy to spot because they
are usually first at everything. Salome, James and John didn't waste any
time confronting Jesus about this matter before someone else could. Even
so, if it is a seat of glory you are anxious to secure for yourself and/or
your children, then each must willingly accept the betrayal of others,
the cruel mockery that will come, the painful scourgings that will be
hatefully delivered, the emotional and physical suffering and total self-denial
that goes along with honorable positions. Can you stand quietly by and
watch your children undergo such treatment before they are allowed to
sit down at God's right hand? Mary did! Are you sure you truly understand
the serious implications of your ambitious request? Such honor is bestowed
only upon those who travel by way of the cross - a long, hard, yet triumphant
journey! There is no brief shortcut to promotion… Like James and John,
will you pompously declare yourself able to drink Christ's full cup and
be baptized with Christ's baptism, surrendering to the deep waters of
affliction? You must take the path of humility if you would be granted
a crown of glory.
Matthew 20:26-28
But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you,
let him be your minister; [27] And whosoever will be chief among you,
let him be your servant: [28] Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered
unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
In closing, those who would be great among you must be self-giving, not
self-serving! Salome's selfish request was rebuked. For the mothers that
approach God with similar demands, these verses are God's advice to you
on greatness. In His eye the one who is great is the one who is a willing,
working servant. Don't try to manipulate Jesus for position, emulate Him!
Keep your ambitions honorable.
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2003 Pamela A. Iannello
